Ethics on hold in New Scotland

NEW SCOTLAND — Aside from the establishment and authority of the ethics board, the ethics law that took effect this month might be withdrawn until Jan. 1.

The town board, which adopted the new ethics law in a unanimous vote in June, will hold a public hearing on Aug. 31 for a bill that would lift all provisions of the ethics law outside of those pertaining to the ethics board, which was named last week.

Members of the town’s planning board, which is subject to the new rules, had questions regarding the type of work they would be permitted to do within the town if they were to maintain their seats on that board.  Robert Stapf, a surveyor who sits on the planning board, asked the town in July for an opinion detailing the effect that the ethics law would have on the ability of those with professional licenses to work in New Scotland.

According to the ethics law, the five-member ethics board is charged with rendering opinions of it.  Since it was named just last week, it has not yet met.

The public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. at town hall.

More New Scotland News

  • New Leaf Energy’s latest proposal is for the installation of two five-megawatt, 20,000-kilowatt-hour systems at 37 and 128 Wormer Road, properties owned by Councilman Adam Greenberg. 

  • April Carbone alleges that the county-owned New Scotland South Road, near its intersection with the town-maintained Game Farm Road, was obstructed by “foliage, brush, shrubs, bushes, trees, debris, bulk,” which she claims hindered “vehicle passage and the traveling public and blocked the view of roads, intersections, signage, conditions, vehicles and hazards," causing her to be “struck by a honda motor vehicle.”

  • In multiple court filings made since first dropping its federal suit in early October, Norfolk Southern has asked for a declaratory judgment stating that federal jurisdiction over the railroad industry preempts Voorheesville’s zoning law.

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